Coasting device



March 15, 1949. H, L QSTLUND 2,464,341

COASTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 FIG. 3 7 '1 l l W I I I l INVENTOR.

L v HENNING OSTLUND ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COASTING DEVICE Henning I. .0stlund.Minneapolis, Minn. Application December 20, 1945, Serial No. 636,097

5 Claims.

This invention relates to coasting devices and is particularly adaptedfor coasting down snowy slopes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coasting device which isgenerally symmetrical in shape and is characterized by a body portionhaving a smooth relatively wide snow contacting bottom surface, andwherein the bottom surface has a side wall extending upwardly therefromand merging therewith on a gradual curve.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide agenerally circular body having a downwardly convex relatively broad snowengaging surface and a generally circular side wall extending upwardlytherefrom and meeting the bottom on a gradual curve and wherein handholds are provided for the occupant of the device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coasting devicewhich is of generally circular shape and which is so designed that itsmotion in coasting down the hill is not controlled by runners or otherdirectional steering mechanism.

The above and other objects of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description made in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout the views, and, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device with a portion of the rim brokenaway;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with part of the side wall andbottom broken away; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the side wall.

The coasting device includes a body A having a bottom 4 which, as bestshown in Figure 2, is generally concavo-convex with the convex surfaceon the under side. Extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom 4which is generally circular in shape is a side wall 5 which, as shown at6, merges with the bottom 4 on a gradual curve. It is preferred that theside wall be vertical or approximately so.

The body A is preferably formed of a relatively stiff material such assheet steel which may be pressed or spun out of a single piece of metal.The upper edge of the bottom 4 is rolled as at I about a wire 8. Therolling of the side wall about the wire 8 imparts considerable strengththereto and also eliminates any sharp edges which might cause injury.

At spaced points around the side wall 5 and toward the top thereof arepairs of apertures 9 and through these apertures are threaded a suitablehand hold element such as a rope Ill. As

shown best in Figure 1, the rope H1 is threaded through the openings 9in such a manner that said rope forms a number of chords of a circledefined by the side wall 5, thereby providing a plurality of ropeportions which may be gripped by the hands of the occupant at pointsinwardly of said side wall 5 so that the hands are protected from injuryin the event of a collision between the coasting device and some otherobject.

In practice the user ordinarily sits himself in the body A with his legsdoubled in front of him and grasps the rope ID at two approximatelyopposite points. The convex under surface of the bottom 4 and thegradual curve 6 where the bottom meets the side wall 5 permits thedevice to coast or slide readily over the snow. The occupant may to someextent control the direction of travel by shifting his weight to oneside or the other, but in view of the fact that there is no positivesteering mechanism a unique and thrilling ride will result. Due to thefact that in most cases the weight will not be evenly distributedlaterally there will be slightly more drag at one side than the otherand the device will have a tendency to spin around as it travelsdownhill. The occupant is close to the ground and in the event of atumble he will be very unlikely to receive any injury. For that reasonit is a device which can be used with particular advantage by children.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, arrangement, details and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is: I

1. A coasting device comprising, a generally circular body of sheetmaterial having a continuous smooth convex bottom, and a side wallextending upwardly from said bottom and merging therewith on a gradualcurve, said structure producing various oscillatory or spinning actionsduring coasting.

2. A coasting device comprising, a generally circular body of sheetmaterial having a smooth bottom, said bottom having a continuous,unbroken, slightly convex lower surface, and a continuous side wallextending upwardly from and merging with said bottom on a gradual curve.

3. A coasting device comprising, a generally circular body of sheetmaterial of a diameter to accommodate a rider in sitting position withhis legs doubled in front of him having a smooth bottom, said bottomhaving a slight convex lower surface, a side wall extending upwardlyfrom and merging with said bottom on a gradual curve and a plurality ofspaced hand-holds mounted within the geometric confines of said sidewall.

4. A coasting device comprising, a body of sheet material having asmooth circular bottom with a convex lower surface, a circular side wallextending upwardly from and merging with the edge of said bottom on agradual curve, and a hand hold secured to said side wall and having aportion thereof forming a chord of the circle described by said sidewall.

5. A coasting device adapted in travel to produce unpredeterminedoscillatory movements comprising a shallow, circular body of sheetmaterial of a diameter to accommodate a rider in.

sitting position with his legs doubled in front of him, said body havinga continuous, slightly con- REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Prickman Oct. 29, 1940 Number

